Our trusty Overland & Safari Tour programs are widespread throughout Africa from the length 4 days to 6 months over the Silence of the Sahara Desert the Cultures & Voodoo of West Africa the Adventure Nature of Central Africa the Southern of Africa Wonders to the Safari Land Multitude Natural Zoo of Eastern Africa

Q : What countries can we visit with AFTours?
AFTours offer tours of Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger and Senegal/the Gambia, when this is part of a multi-country tour that includes Mali. We do not work in these other countries alone. A multi-country tour can start or end in Mali, but it must include Mali, as we have no personnel or equipment in these other countries.
Sorry, we do not work in Nigeria or the Ivory Coast.

Q: What are your departure dates?
Our tours are private, customized and scheduled at the request of each person or group who reserves a tour; there are no group departure dates.
Exception: Desert Festival tours; see our Itineraries page for these scheduled departures.

• all transportation in-country, including fuel and driver (usually a 4-wheel drive vehicle; sometimes a minibus for larger groups; sometimes a traditional riverboat with outboard motor; sometimes a domestic flight)
• all lodging (hotels and/or camping), double occupancy, bed & breakfast; check-in is 2:00 pm and check-out is 12:00 noon; day-room is sometimes provided — refer to your tour program
• continental breakfast; other meals as specified in the tour itinerary (typically during excursions to more remote areas)
• all camping essentials (except sleeping bags) during excursions requiring camping; travelers must bring their own sleeping bags
• airport transfers and luggage handling
• an experienced, English-speaking AFTours guide, with other local guides as necessary (for example, a Dogon guide in Dogon country)
• all hotel taxes, municipal tourism taxes, and site visit/entry fees as per tour program

Q: What is not included in the price?
Air ticket to/from Africa, entry visas, non-specified meals, tips, excess baggage charges if any (on domestic flights), are not included. Day-room is sometimes optional, not included — refer to your tour program for your specific inclusions and exclusions.

Q: Do you have a minimum group size?
No; our tours are private and customized (except Festival Tours), and every "group" is a private party; single individuals are also welcome.

Q: What type of transportation do you provide?
The type of transportation depends on the group size, and on the itinerary. For getting to some Dogon villages and for driving to Timbuktu, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is necessary; these are air-conditioned LandCruiser-type vehicles, and will hold 4-6 passengers (plus driver and guide), depending on the model. For larger groups on itineraries that don't require 4-wheel drive, we use minibuses of various sizes.

Q: What type of accommodations do you offer?
We offer best or best-available accommodations: typically 4-star hotels in the capital cities (with upgrades to 5-stars possible); in the interior of the country best-available hotels are often unrated but usually comparable to 2-3 stars. We can also arrange camping in Mali for travelers who prefer that experience — in Dogon villages, along the Niger River, or in the desert, camping is the only option. Day rooms can be arranged on the last tour day to accommodate late flight departures.

Q: If we opt for camping, what equipment do we need to bring?
Sleeping bags are usually recommended, depending on the season (the cold months are December and January); otherwise sheets and possibly a mosquito net are all that is needed for camping. On specified itineraries, travelers must bring their own tent.

Q: Are the guides local Malians, or Westerners?
All of our guides are Malians with many years of experience; we believe there's no one like a Malian to show you around Mali. We also utilize guides from our neighboring countries as needed. Some tour operator groups may also be accompanied by their own tour leader.

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Q: Are the local people friendly towards Westerners?
Very friendly, and hospitable; West Africans are rightfully proud of their hospitality traditions.

Q: Is there a 'best time' to visit Mali and West Africa?
Conventional wisdom has it that the best time to visit is from October through February, when the weather is relatively cool and dry. If you want to avoid crowds, avoid December and January.
The rainy season (July through September) is also worth considering: it does not rain every day, and the rain doesn't last all day — most roads are paved and unaffected by the rain, and the countryside is green and fresh (dust-free), so the rainy season can be a very pleasant time.

Q: How many days should we allow for a reasonably complete visit of Mali?
Mali is a vast country, most transportation is overland and the interesting sites are far apart. Mali can be visited in a week, if you don't include Timbuktu; with Timbuktu, plan on at least 9-10 days, up to two weeks, with the exact number of days to be determined by the specifics of your tour.

Q: Is Timbuktu really important to visit?
The short answer to this question is "not for everyone." Historically and even today, Timbuktu is far from everything, and difficult to get to. Including Timbuktu increases the cost of any tour. If you will feel that you've missed something by omitting this legendary travelers' magnet, then by all means you should include Timbuktu (allowing sufficient time for this). A Timbuktu visit requires a day, and a two-day roundtrip drive from Mopti (flights are not reliable).

If desert heat and sand are something you prefer to avoid, then you should concentrate on Mali's other interesting sites, namely Djenne, Mopti, the Niger River, and fascinating Dogon country.

Q: How hot does it get in Mali?
Except during the hot months (April, May, sometimes June) when everyday is 100 degrees Farenheit or more, the 'normal' daily high is in the 80s or 90s; at night the temperatures may drop into the 60s or 50s, or lower in the desert.
See About Mali for a chart of monthly average temperatures.

Q: What do you mean by adventure travel?
Except for our river, desert or Dogon trekking expeditions, where 'adventure travel' is absolutely correct (although some would consider it "soft" adventure), this is a slightly exaggerated term to apply to AFTours itineraries, but we use it to emphasize the fact that travel in West Africa is not luxury travel.

What that means exactly varies from place to place, and from time to time, but basically it means that there are no five-star hotels or restaurants outside the capital cities: restaurant menus may not be as varied as expected; cold drinks may not be all that cold; and when we mention camping, that means no frills, sleeping on a ground mattress in a small tent. Travellers should always expect to be surprised.

In exchange for dealing with these local conditions, you will experience the unique and fascinating cultures that make up Mali and neighboring countries. Please see our Culture Shock page for more information on local conditions.

Q: You mention treks and camping; what about those who want to take it easier, or who simply prefer to focus on Mali's cultural side?
All of the activities we mention are available but optional—we can create an itinerary to focus on or exclude whatever you'd like. And if culture is what you'd like to emphasize we can include village stays, local markets, and traditional dances of several ethnic groups.

Q: How much climbing is involved when visiting Dogon country?
As much as you'd like, and no more. 'Climbing' the Bandiagara escarpment is like walking up or down a broken staircase; it's strenuous, because every step is up (or down) from the previous one, and the 'steps' are uneven, as though broken. If you think you'd enjoy this, we can program a lot of time on foot, to go into several villages that are only accessible that way. If this sounds like more exertion than you'd care for, we can limit your tour to the vehicle-accessible villages only. Either way, you'll still have visited Dogon country.

Q: Am I likely to get sick from the food or water?
Not likely, but you must take certain precautions. You should only drink water that's been boiled (coffee or tea) or else bottled mineral water, soft drinks or beer. Trekkers should bring water purification tablets, as it may not be possible to find bottled water everywhere. For food, the restaurants we patronize have no problems; otherwise you should avoid eating anything raw that you don't peel yourself before eating. And wash your hands often.

Q: I have special dietary requirements; can these be met in West Africa?
It depends on your particular case - please contact us for a personalized response. We want you to be healthy in Mali, so please do not hesitate to bring this up, if it is an issue for you.

Q: Do I need any special immunizations?
Yes, proof of immunization against Yellow Fever is required to enter Mali and neighboring countries—consult your physician or travel health clinic. After receiving the vaccine, you will be given an International Certificate of Vaccination, which is honored worldwide. Your physician may also advise other immunizations (such as rabies, tetanus, hepatitis, etc.).

Q: Is malaria a concern?
Yes, malaria exists throughout West Africa; it is a serious illness transmitted by mosquitoes, but it can easily be prevented with some basic precautions. First, you should ask your doctor for a prescription for a malaria-prevention medication - this is usually mefloquine (Lariam), doxycycline, or Malarone in tablet form, taken for the length of your trip plus a short period before your departure and after your return. In the U.S., malaria prevention tablets are sold by prescription only; they are not available in Mali. Secondly, while on tour you should should try to prevent mosquito bites by covering your arms and legs, especially in the evening, and you should use an insect-repellent.

Q: What are Mali's entry requirements?

There are only two requirements:

• an entry visa (see section below)
• Yellow Fever vaccination (consult your physician or a travel health clinic)

Q: Do I need a visa to enter Mali? Do you arrange this?
Yes, a visa is required; tourist visas are not available upon arrival at Bamako airport. A list of Mali Embassies and Consulates is provided on our Travel Tips page. The Malian Embassy (Washington DC and Ottawa) websites have all of the pertinent information and downloadable forms to acquire a visa.

If you cannot get a visa before you travel, AFTours can assist you with this formality in Bamako. Five-day entry stamps are available at the Bamako airport, which allow you to enter Mali and apply for a regular tourist visa in Bamako, if your stay in Mali will exceed five days. This process requires 48-72 hours (Monday-Friday), during which time you must remain in Bamako because your passport will be at the visa office for processing. We recommend getting the visa prior to your trip whenever possible, to avoid having to spend up to three days in Bamako.

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Q: Do you arrange international flights?
Sorry, AFTours does not handle international flight reservations or ticketing; you must make your own flight arrangements at the start and the end of your tour. A list of the airlines that serve Mali can be found on our Travel Tips page.

Q: Do you arrange domestic flights within Mali?
AFTours does utilize domestic flights within Mali occasionally. We regret to say that domestic flights are difficult to obtain and not always reliable, so we recommend that all travel within Mali utilize other transportation as much as possible. We do not provide domestic air tickets unless the flight is part of a tour — AFTours is not a ticket agent for domestic flights.

For more information on domestic flights, see Terms & Conditions section on Domestic Flights.

Q: How is payment arranged? (See Tour Terms & Conditions)
To reserve tour dates, a deposit of 50% of the total tour price must be transferred to our Bamako bank, 60-180 days prior to the start date of the tour. When this payment arrives we make hotel and transportation reservations.

The balance in full is due upon arrival in Bamako, in cash (Euros or US dollars); sorry, we do not accept checks, travellers checks, or credit cards (see the section on Credit cards, below).

N.B.: When checking exchange rates, please remember that Currency Converters show the interbank rate, the retail rate will be slightly lower; and local rates fluctuate with local conditions. Click here to access a currency converter now.

Q: What is AFTours refund policy if I should need to cancel my tour?

Please see our Terms & Conditions for our cancellation and refund policy.

Q: Will I be able to use my credit cards or travellers checks in Mali? in other West African countries?
Credit cards, probably not. As in all developing countries, Mali's economy is a cash economy. Only the large hotels and restaurants in Bamako and other capital cities accept credit cards, and most of them take only Visa card; a few may take MasterCard — despite American Express' publicity, it is almost never utilized in Mali and West Africa).

In Bamako there are banks and one ATM where you can get a cash advance on a Visa credit card (and only Visa); the cash advance limit is 200,000 CFA (approximate value $450 USD). In the interior of Mali and other countries, do not count on credit cards at all. It is nevertheless a good idea to bring a Visa credit card for use in Bamako or other capital cities, in case of emergency.

Foreign exchange: Euros and USDollars (cash) are readily exchangeable in Bamako and other capital cities.

NB: Large cash denominations (US$ 100, € 100, € 200, € 500) are preferred and provide a better exchange rate than smaller bills.

Travellers checks are also exchangeable, with a variable 5-20% commission.

**Be prepared for lengthy procedures to exchange travellers checks, and be sure to have your purchase receipt — some banks and exchange bureaus will not exchange travellers checks without the purchase receipt.

In the interior of Mali and other countries, cash may also be exchanged (not quite as easily as in Bamako and the other capital cities), but travellers checks likely not.

There are also Western Union outlets in Bamako, Sikasso, Kayes, Segou, Mopti, and Timbuktu, where cash can be transferred and accessed the same day.

Q: How can I reserve a tour?
For a customized tour go to our Tour Request page, fill in the pertinent items there, and click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page to e-mail your info to us. Alternatively, you may send us a regular email; be sure in include the number of travellers, the number of days you would like to spend in Mali, and the approximate time of year, if your exact dates are not known.

To sign-up for one of our featured itineraries, click on the "Sign-up" link at the bottom of the itinerary page, then fill out the form and click on the Submit button at the bottom of that page.

You will receive an e-mail from us outlining our customized tour proposal for you, and/or providing information on a featured itinerary. If you want to proceed, we will send you our bank references so that you can make your deposit and reserve your tour dates (see the Payment section, above).